Combination envelop and letter-sheet.



No. 686,260. Patented Nov. l2, 190i.

' A. COLLINS.

COMBINATION ENVELOP AND LETTER SHEET.

(Application filed Oct. 6, 1900.

(No Model.)

rm: "cams r-zrz s so, Puo'raumm WASHINGTON. n. c.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALVIN COLLINS, OF FOND DU LAO, VVISOONSIN.

COM BINATION ENVELOP AND LETTER-SH EET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 686,260, dated November12, 1901.

- Application filed October 6, 1900. Serial No. 32,292. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALVIN OoLLINs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fond du Lac, in the county of Fond du Lac and State ofWisconsin, have invented a new and useful Combination Envelop andLetter-Sheet, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in stationery, the objectbeing to pro vide a novel, useful, and attractive combination envelopand letter-sheet.

More particularly, the invention provides an envelop having unitedthereto one or more sheets of writing-paper and so constructed that whenitis opened for the purpose of gaining access to the letter said letterwill be in the form of a booklet and the envelop will provide a frontand back cover for the same.

In order that the invention may be readily understood by those skilledin this art, the preferred form of construction is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and described in the following specification. Theinvention, however, is not to be limited to the construction shown anddescribed, but is open to change and modification within the scope ofthe claims hereto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of thecombined envelop and letter-sheet in open position ready to be writtenupon. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the rear side of the same, showingit sealed and ready for transmission. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectionalview of the construction shown in Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale. Fig. 4 isa perspective view showing the scaled back of the envelop partiallyremoved. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the resultant booklet formed bythe removal of the envelop back.

Similar numerals of reference design ate corresponding parts in theseveral figures of the drawings.

The improved article comprises an envelop (designated by the n umeral10) in combination with one or more sheets of writing material,(indicated by the numeral 11.) By referring particularly to Fig. 1 itwill be seen that in the construction shown the envelop 10 comprises asingle blank having a rectangular front section 12, provided at one endwith a folding flapsection 13, which is the same shape and size as thefront section and is adapted to be folded upon the same and forms whenfolded an intermediate section. The side edges of the front section areprovided with side flaps 14, which when folded overlap, one of saidflaps being provided with a gummed edge, whereby said flaps may besecured together. posite to the flap-section 13 has also a securing-flap15, which coacts with the side flaps and has a gumrned edge, whereby itmay be secured thereto and to constitute therewith a scaled back for thecomplete envelop. The edges along which the side flaps ltand the endflap 15 are connected with the front section are preferably providedwith rows of perforations, as 16, which permit the ready separation ofsaid flapsfrom the front section.

Associated with the above-described envelop is the material 11, uponwhich the letter is to be written. This is preferably in the form of cutsheets, one or more of which may be used, according to the length. ofthe letter written. These sheets correspond substantially to the shapeof the front section, and the flap-section when folded thereover willextend beyond the edges of the sheets. These sheets are arranged to besecured to the envelop, preferably in the following manner: The adjacentend portions of the front section 12 and the flap-section 13 areprovided with the perforations l7, and the sheets have similarperforations 18, these respective perforations being alined when'theflap-section is folded. A fastener 19, preferably in the shape ofaflexible cord, is passed through these alined perforations, the ends ofsaid cord being fastened together, whereby the leaves are securely heldin place.

In using the improved article the envelop is laid in fiat open position,as shown in Fig. 1, thus exposing the letter-sheets in proper positionto be written upon. After the letter has been written the flap-section13is folded upon the same and the fastener is passed through the alinedopenings. The securingfiaps are then folded over the flap-section 13 andare fastened together in the manner above indicated. The outer face ofthe front section is used for the address and stamp, while the foldedside and end'flaps 14 and 15 form the sealed back of the envelop.

To open the envelop, the sealed back 14: 15

The end of said front section 12 opof the same is detached, which can bereadily accomplished, because of the rows of perforations 16, and theopen end permits the ready insertion of a paper-cutter between thesealed back and the back fiap 13. This leaves the letter in the form ofa booklet, the front section 12 forming the front cover of the same andthe flap-section 13 the rear cover, with the letter interposed betweenthe two and held in place by the fastening 19. By this construction itwill be seen that the letter when opened is in an exceedingly convenientform to be handled and filed away. A still further advantage resides inthe fact that the front of the envelop, having the postmarks, which givethe date and place of mailing of the letter, is preserved.

From'the foregoing it is thought that the construction,operation, andmany advantages of the herein-described invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art without further description, and it will beunderstood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, andminor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing fromthe spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having now described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an article of the class described, an envelop having a frontsection, a removable and a permanent section located upon one side ofthe front section and secured thereto, a letter-sheet interposed betweenthe front section and the section adjacent thereto, and means forsecuring the letter-sheet at one edge to the envelop.

2. In an article of the class described, an envelop comprising aremovable section and two permanently-united sections between which aseparate letter-sheet is placed, and means for fastening the twopermanent sections together at one edge, said means also serving to holdthe letter-sheet in place, the removable section being connected solelyto one of the permanent sections.

3. In an article of the class described, an envelop having a frontsection, an intermediate section coextensive therewith and between whichthe letter-sheet is placed, means for fastening the front andintermediate sections together at one edge, the same fastening meansalso serving to hold the lettersheet in place, and a removable backsection connected with the front section only, whereby on the removal ofsaid back section a booklet remains, which is made up of the front andintermediate sections and the letter-sheet.

4. In an article of the class described, a front section, anintermediate section secured solely at one end to the front section, aletter-sheet interposed between and secured at or contiguous to thejoined ends of said front and intermediate sections, and a removableback section secured to the front section and inclosing the intermediatesection, whereby, when said back section is removed, a booklet remainswhich comprises said front and back sections and the interposedletter-sheet.

5. In an article of the class described, an envelop having a frontsection, a permanent section secured to the front section andsubstantially coextensive in size therewith, a re-

